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Updated: Jun 11, 2025
Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
Published on: March 1, 2019
Prospective Association Between 24-Hour Movement Behaviors and Fundamental Movement Skills in Chinese Preschoolers
Huiqi Song1, Patrick W C Lau1, Jing-Jing Wang2
1Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, HK, China.
Insights
Participating in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is crucial for improving fundamental movement skills (FMS) in preschoolers. Increasing MVPA, even at the expense of light activity, sleep, or sedentary time, benefits FMS development during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Motor Development
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges to children's development.
- Understanding 24-hour movement behaviors' impact on preschoolers' skills is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between 24-hour movement behaviors and fundamental movement skills (FMS) in Chinese preschoolers.
- To explore how physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep influence FMS during the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- Prospective observational study involving 418 preschoolers in Zhuhai, China.
- Device-based measures for physical activity and sedentary behavior; parent-reported sleep duration.
- FMS assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development: Third Edition at 1-year follow-up.
Main Results:
- Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) positively correlated with locomotor and ball skills.
- Light physical activity showed a negative association with locomotor skills.
- FMS improvements were linked to increased MVPA, displacing light activity, sedentary time, and sleep.
Conclusions:
- Higher MVPA is essential for enhancing preschoolers' FMS during the COVID-19 era.
- Time reallocation towards MVPA, at the expense of other behaviors, yielded significant FMS benefits.
- Findings underscore the importance of promoting MVPA for early childhood motor development.
Background:
This prospective observation study explored the association between 24-hour movement behaviors and fundamental movement skills (FMS) in Chinese preschoolers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
Four hundred and eighteen preschoolers (226 males; 4.0 [0.6] y old) from Zhuhai, China, completed the device-based physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior measures, and sleep duration was reported by parents at baseline (October 2021 to December 2021). FMS was assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development: Third Edition at 1-year follow-up (October 2022 to December 2022). The compositional analysis and isotemporal substitution were used.
Results:
Moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) was positively associated with locomotor skills and ball skills (P < .05), and light physical activity was negatively associated with locomotor skills (P < .05) during the COVID-19 pandemic. FMS improvements were linked to the addition of MVPA at the expense of light physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. The estimated detriments to FMS were larger in magnitude than the estimated benefits of time reallocation from MVPA to light physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep.
Conclusions:
This study provides evidence about 24-hour movement behaviors and FMS during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the importance of participating in MVPA to improve preschoolers' FMS development during the COVID-19 era.
